That Britain is not a child or baby-friendly society by European standards is an oft-heard complaint with a good deal of justice to it. The hostility still evinced towards mothers who breastfeed babies in public, for example, compares unfavourably to the much more relaxed approach that our continental neighbours adopt towards this most natural human activity.

Companies should help new mothers to return to work by providing them with breastfeeding facilities or by allowing them to bring their babies to work, the Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, said at the weekend. He is urging firms to set up areas where they can breastfeed and to supply fridges or cool-boxes to store expressed milk.